[Midnight Market – Hidden district, glowing lanterns. A narrow alley filled with cultivator oddities, shady deals, and street alchemists.]
(Ye Hann): The midnight market only opens on the 5th and 25th of each month.
Unlicensed cultivators, rogue apothecaries, even wandering spirit beast traders gather here. The city pretends it doesn’t exist—because everyone secretly needs it.
I came to offload two copies of a low-grade pill refining technique.
Basic stuff. But rare enough for the right buyer to overpay.
[Ye Hann slips a folded scroll into a merchant’s hand. They exchange envelopes.]
Merchant (grinning):
You sure you’re in high school, kid? This formula’s cleaner than most professionals.
Ye Hann (calm):
I study hard.
[He pockets the money, turns to leave—then stops.]
That’s when I saw her.
[A few stalls away — Ruoqi, wearing a hoodie, face shadowed, brows drawn tight.]
[She stands in front of a dusty herb vendor, holding a small vial, voice low.]
Ruoqi:
This says it cures spiritual decay—but I need something stronger. Her pulse has slowed. Her Qi channels are shutting down.
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Vendor (shaking head):
Miss, I told you—your grandmother doesn’t have spiritual decay.
That sounds like lotus corruption.
Midnight snow variety, maybe. You won’t fix that with blackroot tea.
Ruoqi (tense):
Then what do I need?
Vendor:
Something that doesn’t exist anymore.
[Ye Hann steps out of the shadows.]
Ye Hann:
That’s not true.
[Ruoqi turns, surprised.]
Ruoqi:
You? What are you doing here?
Ye Hann:
Selling knowledge. And apparently, now—offering it for free.
[Quiet Corner Outside the Market. Ruoqi and Ye Hann sit beside an old lamppost flickering slightly.]
Ruoqi:
How do you know about lotus corruption?
No one’s even been able to name it, let alone treat it.
Ye Hann:
Because I watched three cultivators die from it.
[Ye Hann (internally):
Ruoqi (staring):
You talk like someone who’s lived two lifetimes.
Ye Hann (smiling faintly):
Maybe I just read too much.
[Apothecary Warehouse – Ye Hann mixes ingredients under soft candlelight.]
It’s a risk. The old method wasn’t stable. But if I infuse the copper Qi dish with spring-root and anchor it with jade marrow...
I might not cure her fully.
But I can stop her from dying.
[The brew glows faintly silver. Ruoqi watches in stunned silence.]
Ruoqi:
You’re not just guessing, are you?
Ye Hann:
Guessing doesn’t smell this accurate.
[Hospital – Pre-dawn. Ruoqi’s grandmother lies unconscious.]
[Ye Hann applies the salve across key meridian points and uses a soft Qi-guided palm to direct flow. Her breathing evens out.]
[A long pause. Then her eyes flutter open.]
Grandmother (weak):
You’re… a strange one.
Ye Hann (smiling):
Strange works. Especially when normal isn’t enough.
[Rooftop Overlooking the City – Dawn breaking.]
Ruoqi (softly):
You didn’t have to help.
Ye Hann:
Didn’t plan to. But seeing you there—digging through trash medicine for someone you love…
I’ve been there. In another life.
Ruoqi (turning to him):
You saved her. You didn’t even hesitate.
You’re either insanely confident…
Or just plain insane.
Ye Hann (half-smile):
Bit of both, probably.
[She steps closer.]
Ruoqi:
I don’t trust people easily.
But you’re making it difficult to.
(Ye Hann):
Trust is more dangerous than poison.
Because once they trust you—they expect you to .
But for now…
Maybe I’ll stay.
Just a little longer.
